From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
The fall color season is winding down in northeast Iowa. Oak trees are providing most of the fall color with shades of red, yellow, and bronze.
Central Iowa will be at peak fall color through this weekend. Lots of yellows including cottonwood, elm, walnut, hackberry, ash, hickory and others. Red and crimson colors are good on sumac, dogwood, Virginia creeper and some maples. Oaks are turning red.
Maples in urban settings are showing various red, orange and brown colors in southeast Iowa. The forested landscape is dotted with yellow, brown and green. Roadside and field edge shrubs are red, purple, brown and green. Virginia creeper and poison ivy are red.
Yellow colors are plentiful (hickories, elm, cottonwood) in south central Iowa. Many trees are losing their leaves quickly due to high wind and drought. Oaks are starting to turn color but are still very green. They will be very showy by the end of this week and weekend.
Fall colors are in full swing across Lucas and Monroe counties. Oaks are starting to show brilliant colors. Yellows shown by hickories and cottonwood are nearing the end of their season.
Enjoy a scenic drive through the Central Loess Hills this week. Yellow color near Pisgah is vibrant.
White ash are very colorful in southwest Iowa. White, red and black oaks, along with black cherry, are turning reds and purples. Urban maples are showing reds, pinks and oranges. Many typically vibrant shrubs like sumac may be muted due to prolonged drought and last week’s frost.
Fall color in Iowa
With all of Iowa’s beautiful state parks and wooded areas, there are so many places to enjoy this beautiful annual experience.
Leaf color characteristics of some common plants:
- Walnut: Turns yellow in fall. One of the first to turn and drop leaves. One of the last to leaf out in spring.
- Red Oak: Brilliant red leaves in fall. Color probably not as intense as some hard maples.
- White Oak: Subdued red color of leaves in fall. Then turning brown and often staying on the tree until new leaves begin to grow in the spring.
- Bur Oak: Buff to yellow. Turning brown before falling.
- Hickory: Leaves turn yellow, then brown before falling.
- Ash: Leaves turn yellow, but some have a purplish cast. Leaves fall after walnut but earlier than oaks and maples.
- Elms: Leaves turn yellow, some turn brown before falling, others while still yellow.
- Soft Maple: Leaves turn yellow. They don’t turn brown before falling.
- Hard Maple: Brilliant red hues. Red pigmentation of some leaves breaks down before falling.
- Sumac: Redder and anything, but often overlooked because it is a small tree confined to openings and edges.
- Virginia Creeper: Bright red. Very spectacular when it grows on dead snags.
